Past Continuous

 The past continuous is made from the past tense of the verb be and the –ing form of a verb:

I was working

You were playing

We use the past continuous to talk about the past:

• for something which happened before and after another action:

The children were doing their homework when I got home.

Compare: The children did their homework when (= after) I got home.

This use of the past continuous is very common at the beginning of a story:

The other day I was waiting for a bus when …
Last week, as I was driving to work, … 

• for something that happened before and after a specific time:

It was eight o'clock. I was writing a letter.

Compare: At eight o'clock I wrote (= started writing) some letters.

• to show that something continued for some time:

My head was aching.
Everyone was shouting.

• for something that happened again and again:

I was practising every day, three times a day.
They were meeting secretly after school.
They were always quarrelling.

• with verbs which show change or growth:

The children were growing up quickly.
Her English was improving.
My hair was going grey.
The town was changing quickly.

We do not normally use the past continuous with stative verbs. We use the past simple instead:

When I got home, I really needed (NOT was needing) a shower.

Make up 5 sentences with the verb in Past Continuous and post them below. 

‘Never give up,’ says teenager who landed BBC job after dozens of rejections

 

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Read the article and answer the questions:

1. What grades did Tyreek obtain in his A-levels?

2. What problems did he encounter while he was doing job-hunting?

3. How did he obtain his current job and what is it about?

4. What advice did Tyreek give to jobless people?

Hundreds of migrants and refugees camped at Belarus-Poland border

 

Watch the video and answer the questions:

1. Where are the refugees heading?

2. What is the reaction of the European Commission in response to the crisis?

3. What is the origin of the problem, according to the Russian foreign minister?

‘My grandmother hid Jewish children’: Poland’s underground refugee network

 

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Read the article and answer the questions:

1. What is the standoff between Poland and Belarus?

2. How do the Poles help the refugees?

3. Which situation in the past does the story resemble?

The Muslims who saved Jews from the Holocaust

 

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Read the article and answer the questions:

1. What role did Muslims play in the salvation of Jews during the Holocaust?

2. How many Muslims are there in Britain, according to the 2011 Census?

3. Why did the number of Jews increase in Albania during the Second World War?

 

Past simple or present perfect

Definite time in the past

We use the past simple to refer to definite time in the past (when we specify the time or how long) and usually with past time expressions such as yesterday, two weeks ago, last year, in 1995:

We met in January 1975. We went to America together in 1978.

Not: We have met in January 1975. We have gone to America together in 1978.

Time up to now

We use the present perfect to talk about time up to now, that is, events that took place in the past but which connect with the present. The present perfect is often used with time expressions which indicate time up to now, for example today, this year, in the last six months:

I haven’t seen her since January 1995.

Not: I didn’t see her since January 1995.

Compare

I haven’t seen her for over 20 years.	The last time I saw her was over 20 years ago.
I didn’t see her for over 20 years and then I bumped into her last week.	I saw her last week but the last time I saw her before last week was over 20 years ago.

 

Compare

I finished my homework an hour ago.	Definite time in the past. I finished my homework at a time in the past (one hour ago).
I haven’t finished my homework yet.	From a time in the past up to now. I started my homework at a time in the past and it is not finished yet (yet means ‘up to now’).
We had a good day yesterday.	Definite time in the past. We had a good day in the past (yesterday).
We have had a good day so far.	From a time in the past up to now. The day has been good until now but it hasn’t finished yet.
We didn’t see Diana last week.	Definite time in the past (last week).

We haven’t seen Diana this week.	From the beginning of the week until now.
I didn’t have any lunch today.	Today is not finished but it is almost the end of the day and past lunchtime.
I haven’t had any lunch today.	It is still today and not too late to have lunch.

Make up 5 sentences with Present Perfect and Past Simple and post them below.

Efforts to save Iran nuclear deal ‘reaching the end of the road’

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Read the article and answer the questions:

1. What changes have there occurred in the relations between Europe and Iran since the 2015 Iran nuclear deal?

2. What policy does the US pursue in this matter? 

3. What happened to the IAEA cameras placed at Karaj near Tehran?

Deadly Tornado Hits Multiple States

 

This should be a reminder to those capable of understanding. Fear Allah the way He should be feared.

Kentucky tornadoes: up to 100 feared dead in historic US storms

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Read the article and answer the questions:

1. What do you know of the level of devastation caused by the latest US tornado?

2. What was Biden's reaction to the event?

3. What was the reaction of the witnesses and survivors?

Phrasal Verbs

 Look at these examples to see how phrasal verbs are used.

This is the form. Please can you fill it in?
Why are you bringing that argument up now?
Police are looking into connections between the two crimes.
We need to come up with a solution.

Phrasal verbs are very common in English, especially in more informal contexts. They are made up of a verb and a particle or, sometimes, two particles. The particle often changes the meaning of the verb.

I called Jen to see how she was. (call = to telephone)
They've called off the meeting. (call off = to cancel)

In terms of word order, there are two main types of phrasal verb: separable and inseparable. 

Separable

With separable phrasal verbs, the verb and particle can be apart or together.

They've called the meeting off.
OR
They've called off the meeting.

However, separable phrasal verbs must be separated when you use a pronoun. 

The meeting? They've called it off.

Here are some common separable phrasal verbs:

I didn't want to bring the situation up at the meeting.
(bring up = start talking about a particular subject)

Please can you fill this form in?
(fill in = write information in a form or document)

I'll pick you up from the station at 8 p.m.
(pick up = collect someone in a car or other vehicle to take them somewhere)

She turned the job down because she didn't want to move to Glasgow.
(turn down = to not accept an offer)

Non-separable

Some phrasal verbs cannot be separated. 

Who looks after the baby when you're at work?

Even when there is a pronoun, the verb and particle remain together.

Who looks after her when you're at work?

Here are some common non-separable phrasal verbs:

I came across your email when I was clearing my inbox. 
(come across = to find something by chance)

The caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly. 
(turn into = become)

It was quite a major operation. It took months to get over it and feel normal again. 
(get over = recover from something)

We are aware of the problem and we are looking into it. 
(look into = investigate)

Some multi-word verbs are inseparable simply because they don't take an object.

I get up at 7 a.m.

With two particles

Phrasal verbs with two particles are also inseparable. Even if you use a pronoun, you put it after the particles.

Who came up with that idea? 
(come up with = think of an idea or plan)

Let's get rid of these old magazines to make more space. 
(get rid of = remove or become free of something that you don't want)

I didn't really get on with my stepbrother when I was a teenager.
(get on with = like and be friendly towards someone)

Can you hear that noise all the time? I don't know how you put up with it. 
(put up with = tolerate something difficult or annoying)

The concert's on Friday. I'm really looking forward to it. 
(look forward to = be happy and excited about something that is going to happen)

Read the explanation and make up 5 sentences with phrasal verbs.

Complex Subject

 

Noun/Pronoun + Predicate + Infinitive

The combination of a noun in the common case (or a pronoun in the nominative case) and an infinitive forms a complex subject.
The predicate which is usually expressed by a verb in the passive voice  is placed between the noun and the infinitive. The relation between the noun and the infinitive is that of subject and predicate.


The predicate in sentences with a complex subject can be expressed by:

1. The same verbs that can be followed by a complex object  (that is verbs of sense perception: to see, to hear…, verbs of mental activity: to know, to suppose…; verbs of inducement: to order, to cause, to allow…,). The verbs are used in the passive voice.

Patterns.

1. He was supposed to bring this book from London. (Predicate is underlined.) 
2. They are heard to have come from the South. 
3. They were seen to go home together. This article is expected to be published next month.

2. verbs of saying: to say, to report, to announce... in the passive voice.

Patterns.

1. The building of the new hostel is reported to be over. 
2. He was said to be writing a new play.

3. the verbs to seem, to appear, to prove, to happen, to turn out, to chance  in the active voice. 

1. The telephone happened to be out of order. 
2. The young man proved to know everybody. 
3. The house seems to have been damaged by the earthquake.

4. compound predicate: to be likely, to be unlikely, to be sure, to be certain, to be bound. 

1. They are likely to return on Sunday. 
2. Their team is certain to win. / Their team is bound to win. 
3. He is sure to miss this train. 
4. This house is likely to have been built many centuries ago.

Read the information above and make up 5 sentences with Complex Subject.

A decade of marketisation has left lecturers with no choice but to strike

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Read the article and answer the questions:

1. What was the reason for the strike?

2. How do you understand the term 'casualisation'?

3. Who insisted on reduction in staff costs and why?

4. Do you think reduction is the solution?

List of examination topics for the 3rd year students

 1. My meals

2. Higher education in Great Britain

3. The book I've recently read

4. My last visit to the doctor

5. The country I would like to visit

6. Choosing a career

7. London

8. Russia

9. My favorite film

10. Happy topic

World’s vast networks of underground fungi to be mapped for first time

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Read the article and answer the questions:

1. What function do fungi perform in relation to plants?

2. What is the length of underground fungal networks?

3. In which regions of the world can the fungal networks be found?

Inside A Tech-Free School Where Tech Executives Send Their Kids

 

Share your personal opinion regarding this school. Would you like to study in one? If so, why?

A Silicon Valley School That Doesn’t Compute

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Read the article and answer the questions:

1) What do you know about Waldorf schools? How do they function?

2) How many of them are there in the US? 

3) Are these schools effective, according to the statistics?

Frances Haugen: ‘I never wanted to be a whistleblower. But lives were in danger’

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Read the article and answer the questions:

1) What position did Frances Haugen occupy in Facebook?

2) What was the turning point for her to become a whistleblower?

3) What did she accuse Facebook of?

4) Where were her revelations published?

5) What changes were announced by Facebook?

6) What solution did Frances offer?

No pun intended

Pun is a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings.

1. A man was severely hurt as a pile of books fell on him in the library. Apparently, he only has his shelf to blame.

2. As I struggled in the class with a half pencil, my teacher looked at me and said, "Writing with a broken pencil is pointless, my child."

3. The comma said, "I think we should slow down for a while." The full stop replied, "We'd rather just stop right now!"

4. Did you know, seven days without a pun can make one weak?

5. My friend said he is terrific friends with 25 letters of the alphabet, but he doesn't know Y.

6. My sister said, "I stayed up the whole night to see where the sun went, then it finally dawned on me." She's great with her grammar for sure.

7. My teacher always says, "Double negatives are a big no-no."

8. My teacher avoids cliches like the plague!

9. When in class, my teacher called me and said, "Name 2 pronouns." Alarmed, I said, "Who, me?"

10. When my teacher asked what I want to do during the vacation, I said, "Go to Italy, Rome around and pasta time." I am one of her favorite students now.

11. At night, an owl said, "Whom" instead of who, and my father exclaimed, "Now, that's a classy owl right there."

If you like puns, post them in the commentary section below. 

Participle clauses

Grammar explanation

Participle clauses enable us to say information in a more economical way. They are formed using present participles (going, reading, seeing, walking, etc.), past participles (gone, read, seen, walked, etc.) or perfect participles (having gone, having read, having seen, having walked, etc.). 

We can use participle clauses when the participle and the verb in the main clause have the same subject. For example,

Waiting for Ellie, I made some tea. (While I was waiting for Ellie, I made some tea.)

Participle clauses do not have a specific tense. The tense is indicated by the verb in the main clause. 

Participle clauses are mainly used in written texts, particularly in a literary, academic or journalistic style. 

Present participle clauses

Here are some common ways we use present participle clauses. Note that present participles have a similar meaning to active verbs. 

• To give the result of an action
  The bomb exploded, destroying the building.
• To give the reason for an action
  Knowing she loved reading, Richard bought her a book.
• To talk about an action that happened at the same time as another action
  Standing in the queue, I realised I didn't have any money.
• To add information about the subject of the main clause
  Starting in the new year, the new policy bans cars in the city centre.

Past participle clauses

Here are some common ways that we use past participle clauses. Note that past participles normally have a passive meaning.

• With a similar meaning to an if condition
  Used in this way, participles can make your writing more concise. (If you use participles in this way, … )
• To give the reason for an action
  Worried by the news, she called the hospital.
• To add information about the subject of the main clause
  Filled with pride, he walked towards the stage.

Perfect participle clauses

Perfect participle clauses show that the action they describe was finished before the action in the main clause. Perfect participles can be structured to make an active or passive meaning.

Having got dressed, he slowly went downstairs.
Having finished their training, they will be fully qualified doctors.
Having been made redundant, she started looking for a new job.

 

Read the explanation and make up 5 sentences including participles. Post them in the commentary section.

A film review

click here to watch the film

Watch the film Wild Strawberries by Ingmar Bergman (1957) and write a review including the following points:

1) the director;

2) the protagonist(s);

3) the time and setting;

4) summary;

5) appraisal.

Optional points:

1) prehistory;

2) awards.

You can use Page 117 of English File (Intermediate) as an example of writing a film review. Post your review in the commentary section below.

Simpler spelling may be more relevant than ever

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Read the article and answer the questions in the commentary section below:

1. Which variant of spelling is easier for non-native speakers of English: British or American?

2. Is dyslexia linked to a person's birthplace? Why is it easier to diagnose people born in England?

3. What do you know of Noah Webster? (To answer this question you can use the sources other than this article)

3 Rules for Better Life-work Balance

Watch the video and answer the questions:

1. According to the speaker, is answering your boss's message OK in your free time?

2. What were the results of the study conducted with the parents visiting a science museum with their kids?

3. What is the impact of the interruptions on organisations?

4. What solution does Ashley Whillans propose to tackle this issue?

Nobel Peace Prize: Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov share award

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Read the article and answer the questions in the commentary section below:

1) Who got the Nobel Peace Prize this year and what was their achievement?

2) Who has won the prize previously?

Challenge Finn: The third conditional

• The third conditional is used for a past situation that didn't happen. 

In the video, Finn is lost. He says:

If I had paid attention…

In other words, in the past he did not pay attention. The past situation that did not happen is: Finn paying attention. That's the part we call the conditional clause, or the if clause. Next we have the result:

… I wouldn't have got lost

This is the result of the past situation! It's the result clause or the main clause. Finn did get lost, but if the past was different, he wouldn't have got lost.

... And he wouldn't have found the big number three which was useful for this video.

Use third conditional in sentences of your own and post them below.

Surges in Undocumented and Asylum-Seeking Children Prompt Need for Better K–12 Policies

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Summarise the article and post the summary in the commentary section below

Rothko and Warhol

1. What do you know of Mark Rothko? Which genre did he write his pictures in?

2. What do you know about pop art? Name the most famous representatives.

Conditionals

Zero Conditional

Time: General

Function: Habits, tendencies, rules, and scientific facts.

Structure: When + Present Simple, Present Simple.

Example: When he is stressed, he exercises.

 

First Conditional

Time: Future

Function: Probable future, predictions, promises, threats, and offers.

Structure: If + Present Simple, will/ modal + verb

Example: If Sally is hungry later, she will eat something.

Second Conditional

Time: Hypothetical future, abstract

Function: Fantasy, improbable future, hypothesis, and negotiations.

Structure: If + Past Simple, would/ modal + verb

Example: If I was rich, I would travel around the world.

 

Third Conditional

Time: Hypothetical past

Function: Regrets, comments about past situations.

Structure: If + Past Perfect, would/ modal + have + past participle.

Example: If I had not studied English, I would have studied Arabic.

 

Mixed Conditional

Time: Past (condition) and present (consequence).

Function: Regrets, comments about past situations that have present consequences.

Structure: If + Past Perfect, would/ modal + verb

Example: If I had studied Arabic at school, I could speak Arabic now.

To take a test on conditionals click here

Make up 4 sentences with each type of conditionals and post them below.